Rock & Roll Tidbits

The song "Happy Birthday" brings in about $2 million a year in licensing revenue to Warner Communications, who hold the copyright to the song.

The harmonica that John Lennon used to record The Beatles "Love Me Do" was one that he shoplifted from a store in Arnhem, Holland.

Even though Barry Manilow wrote many of his chart makers, he did not write three of his most popular hits. "Mandy" was written by Scott English and Richard Kerr, "Looks Like We Made It,” was penned by Will Jennings and Richard Kerr, and "I Write The Songs" was composed by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys.

Iggy Pop is one strange character. His concerts included exhibitionism, jumping into the crowds, and smearing himself with peanut butter, why he even performed a gig while zippered inside a military duffel bag. Even his personal hygiene was questionable as he would keep an empty glass next to his bed at night so if he had to pee in the middle of the night, he didn’t have to walk all the way to the bathroom. His most humiliating concert occurred in 1997 when he jumped off the stage into the arms of his adoring fans. Apparently, they were not so adoring, and they failed to catch the airborne rock star. He slammed to the ground, dislocating his shoulder and had to cancel the rest of his tour.

For the recording of "A Whiter Shade Of Pale,” Procol Harum's producer Denny Cordell chose to replace the band's regular drummer, Bobby Harrison, with session man Bill Eyden. Even though the song went to the top of the charts world wide, Eyden was paid the Musicians' Union rate of 15 pounds and 15 shillings. Harrison received, like all the other members of the band, 10,000 pounds, despite admitting he had taken no part in the recording. He later left the band and was replaced by B.J. Wilson.

The Bellemy Brothers hit "Let Your Love Flow" was written by Larry Williams, a roadie for Neil Diamond. It was the only song that he wrote that was ever recorded, but it sold over four million copies.

The Standells' drummer, Larry Tamblyn is the brother of Russ Tamblyn (star of West Side Story) and uncle of Amber Tamblyn (star of Joan of Arcadia and Grudge 2).

The follow-up album to the Beach Boys classic LP “Pet Sounds” was initially called “Dumb Angel,” then “Smile.” To record the album, Brian Wilson and a collaborator brought in $2,000 worth of black hash, toked it up and set their microphones about a foot from the ground and then lay on the floor. This plan was quickly nixed when the stoned-rockers ultimately decided to stand back up to keep from falling asleep. Ya think?

Michael Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State anthem.

The world's first cassette player was made available to the public at an electronics show in August 1965.

In 1980, former Amboy Dukes guitarist Ted Nugent, known as "the Motor City Madman,” was made a deputy sheriff near his home in southern Michigan.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was at a press conference early in their career. He picked his nose and flicked the rock and roll bugar across the room. When an appalled writer made a comment, band mate Mick Jagger replied, “You’re lucky it wasn’t a green one, he eats those.”

The Beatles' last concert tour appearance was a 33-minute performance at San Francisco's Candlestick Park on Monday August 29th, 1966. The Park's capacity was 42,500 but the Beatles only filled 25,000 seats, leaving entire sections unsold. The last song they played was not even one of their own tunes. It was Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally.”

Gus Cannon had written and recorded a song called "Walk Right In" in 1930. Erik Darling heard the record over 30 years later and along with some friends, recorded it as The Rooftop Singers. Cannon was 79 years old at the time and had been living in a tiny trackside house, heated by coal. His financial situation improved dramatically when newly recorded song caught on across America and went to number one in January, 1963.

Barry McGuire, who recorded the number one smash "Eve Of Destruction" in 1965, never had another US Top 40 hit. He did however become a born again Christian in the 1970s and sold hundreds of thousands of Gospel records.

While still in the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald sang backup vocals on Christopher Cross' 1980, number two hit, "Ride Like The Wind.”

The last time all four Beatles were ever together was in a recording studio during a mixing session for "Abbey Road" on August 20th, 1969.

Faced with the Beatles' breakup, Paul McCartney told the others he wanted the band to get back to its roots and tour little clubs. John Lennon said he was nuts.

Record Fair

In the Washington D.C area?

Sunday, February 8 at 12:00pm 5:00pm
Civilian Art Projects
406 7th Street NW, 3rd Floor Washington DC

Hosts: Som Records, The Vinyl District, DC Soul Recordings, Civilian Art Projects

Album Cover Art

I obviously picked this one because of the colors, it reaches right out to you!

Log Bomb

Bob Log III

Bob Log III is an American, Slide Guitar, One Man Band. During performances, he plays old silvertone archtop guitars, wears a full body cannonball man suit, and a helmet wired to a telephone which allows him to devote his hands and feet to guitar and drums. The spectacle has been described as a guitar dance party, full of sweaty smiles, jumps and kicks. Touring over 150 shows a year in more than 30 countries, Log and his guitar never, ever quit. Bob Log's version of quick Delta blues is a continuation the sound that Bob Log and Thermos pioneered in the duo, Doo Rag. The major differences are: greater emphasis on guitar showmanship, and drumming -one man band style-with his feet. It sounds like three drummers, two guitar players, and one sort of singer. Based in Tucson, Arizona, and Melbourne, Australia, he has made frequent tours of North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, Mexico, and Iceland.

Gotta Love A Man Like This:

Boob Scotch

One of Bob Log III's more controversial antics is 'Boob Scotch', that is, scotch which has been stirred by a female (or male) breast. [10] This practice was integrated into the aptly titled song "Boob Scotch" from the album Log Bomb, in which Bob Log sings "I think we need to sit down and talk, put your boob in my scotch. Come on dip your tit in my drink, stir my scotch with something that's pink." [11]

Bob Log III often invites audience members to 'make' a Boob Scotch, asking them onstage to dip their breast in his scotch (usually pre-ordered from the venue's bar) after which he lifts his helmet slightly and downs the drink. Log has been known to dip his own breast in his scotch, especially in Japan, a modest nation and usually not willing to expose their 'Boob'.

Classic Rock Videos

The Beatles - I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

Music News & Notes

AC/DC Theme Songs At WrestleMania

Rumors have been waffling back and forth as to whether AC/DC will actually be performing at WrestleMania XXV but, according to WWE.com, their songs War Machine from Black Ice and the live version of Shoot to Thrill from AC/DC Live will be the official theme songs for the telecast.

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Aretha's Hat

The Smithsonian Institute has asked Aretha Franklin to donate the hat that she wore at President Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20. Franklin performed Let Freedom Ring prior to the swearing in ceremony.

Franklin told People magazine, “I am considering it. It would be hard to part with my chapeau since it was such a crowning moment in history. I would like to smile every time I look back at it and remember what a great moment it was in American and African-American history. Ten cheers for President Obama.”

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Sir Paul to Stay Home in 2009

Paul McCartney will not be touring in 2009 because he doesn't want to leave his five-year-old daughter Beatrice for a long period.

A source says, "Paul and Beatrice have a real routine going, there's no way he'll disrupt that. Paul has enjoyed touring in the past but right now the priority is definitely Beatrice. He couldn't bear the thought of being away from her for any stretch of time so a full-length tour is out. He much prefers doing one-off shows."

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Bruce Rocks the Halftime Show


Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band gotthe most of their 12 minutes during the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show, adeptly rocking through the classics "10th Avenue Freeze Out," "Born To Run," "Glory Days" and the new song "Working on a Dream."

"I want you to put the chicken fingers down and turn your television all the way up," Springsteen commanded as the band jumped into the vintage sing-a-long "10th Avenue Freeze Out," which was played at the three-minute running time of its studio version on the album "Born To Run." In their live performances, the group usually turns the song into a 15-minute jam.

With Springsteen and guitarists Steven Van Zandt and Patti Scialfa on a platform in front of the stage, a choir joined the group for "Working on a Dream," the title cut of the new Springsteen album released on Jan. 27.

The set concluded with the "Born in the U.S.A.," the legendary "Glory Days," which was an appropriate choice for its reference to a "hail mary" pass. After the final note sounded, Springsteen shouted, "I'm going to Disneyland!"

This Date In Music History-February 2

Birthdays:

Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant) was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1947. He later worked as an A&R man for PolyGram Records and signed Bon Jovi.

Stone Temple Pilots- Robert DeLeo (1966)

Earth, Wind & Fire- Al McKay (1948)

Howard Bellamy- Bellamy Brothers (1946)

Peter Lucia-Tommy James and The Shondells (1947)

Graham Nash turns 67.


They Are Missed:

John Spence, singer, original member of No Doubt (1969-1987)

Born on this day in 1940, Alan Caddy, guitarist with The Tornadoes, who had a 1962 UK & US #1 single with “Telstar.” This was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. Caddy died on August 16th 2000.

Skip Battin, the Byrds was born in 1934. Also a member of New Riders Of The Purple Sage and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Battin died on July 6th 2003.

At the age of 21, ex-Sex Pistol bass player Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979 in the New York City.

Billy Henderson, one of the founders The Spinners died in 2007 (age 67).

Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz was born in Philadelphia in 1927. Died on June 6, 1991.


History:

Appearing at Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa in 1959, Buddy Holly, Richard Valens and The Big Bopper. This was all three acts last ever gig before being killed in a plane crash the following day.

In 1955, Petula Clark scored her first major hit on the UK chart with a song called "Majorca.” The single was the first of a string of Top 20 hits in the UK and Europe, but it would be ten years before Clark gained any attention in the United States.

In 1959, Frankie Avalon released his biggest hit, "Venus,” which reached #1 in the US and #16 in the UK.

Mouseketeer Annette Funicello saw her first hit, "Tall Paul" enter the Billboard Pop chart in 1959, where it reached #7.

Barbra Streisand started a four week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with the theme from the film “The Way We Were.” The single won an Oscar and a Grammy for “Song of the Year.”

In 1964, in response to a storm of controversy, Max Firetag, the publisher of The Kingsmen's hit, "Louie Louie,” offered $1,000 to anyone who could find suggestive lyrics in the song. The reward was small change, considering that the disc cost $50 to record and has sold over 1 million copies.

Simon and Garfunkel recorded "Mrs. Robinson” in 1968, which would become their second US #1 and win a Grammy Award for Record Of The Year.

In 1949, RCA released the first 45 RPM records (seven 45's in various genres, including the original "That's All Right Mama" by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup).

The Beatles began their first British tour in 1963.

In 1956, two members of the Robins broke away from the group and signed with Atlantic Records as the Coasters.

The Midnight Special premiered on NBC-TV with Helen Reddy as host in 1973. Wolfman Jack would later take over for an eight-and-a-half-year run.

Dale Hawkins recorded "Susie-Q" in 1957.

REO Speedwagon's 10th album, "Hi Infidelity," goes platinum in 1981.